Belgium halts consular services for citizens in 'Israeli' settlements
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- Belgium suspends consular services for citizens living in settlements beyond the 1967 lines.
- Move follows conditional recognition of a Palestinian state and sanctions against 'Israeli' officials.
Belgium has stopped issuing or renewing passports, registering births and marriages, and facilitating voting for Belgian citizens living in 'Israeli' settlements in West Bank, according to Israeli media reports.
The measures affect areas beyond the Green Line, which separates pre-1967 'Israel' from the West Bank, including settlements in the occupied territories.
Government decision linked to Palestinian recognition
The move follows a September 2025 Belgian government decision tied to its conditional recognition of a Palestinian state. The recognition required that Hamas not participate in any future Palestinian government, a condition that has not been met, according to the 'Israeli' news site Walla.
Read more: Spain's trade ban with 'Israeli' settlements goes into effect
Belgium began implementing parts of the decision last month, including prohibiting 'Israeli' military flights over Belgian airspace, sanctioning 'Israeli' ministers Itamar Ben-Gvir and Bezalel Smotrich, and limiting consular services for Belgian citizens residing in settlements.
Read more: South Koreans sustain 550-day rotating protest for Palestine outside 'Israeli' embassy
Diplomatic implications
The measures mark a significant step in Belgium’s foreign policy toward the 'Israeli' occupation of Palestinian, signaling support for Palestinian sovereignty while targeting the legality and expansion of settlements beyond the 1967 borders.
